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The AI Backlash Could Get Ugly

theatlantic.com

181–185 of 185 posts

Re: The AI Backlash Could Get Ugly

#181
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like every opposition I read to wealth taxes is someone saying that we shouldn't do it, because it won't be perfect. Without offering an alternative to the status quo, which is nothing. We can iterate on taxes if they're ineffective, but it's unforgivable to not try and do something in the face of so much inequality.

I sort of implied that it needs to be predicable (annual) and less arbitrary (bracketed). A one-off tax sends the message that you can be taxed whenever and for whatever. Unpredictable policy sends a message that somewhere isn't a stable place to live or do business.

This is not my reaction to just you. This is my reading of "any time a wealth tax is brought up." My recommendation to you, given you seem to be acting in good-faith:

Make it clear "What you want a wealth tax to look like instead" But also, it's easier to destroy than it is to create, so I think any state setting the grounds for how they're going to try this, is worth supporting and iterating on.

Re: The AI Backlash Could Get Ugly

#182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am convinced that their talk of UBI is just handwaving; they're trying to convince us that there will be a solution to the destruction of the economy as we know it, so that we'll just let them do whatever they want. This is exactly it. Also, even if UBI is implemented: 1) It's probably going to be just enough to let one scrape by as a member of a permanent underclass. You will not be comfortable on it. 2) I doubt…

So you're saying we'll all live on "Reservations".

Aren't you excited?

Re: The AI Backlash Could Get Ugly

#183

People like Altman and Musk are saying that Universal Basic Income will be necessary once AI has fully automated away most jobs, but at the same time they aggressively fight against any kind of tax policy that would allow UBI to function. I am convinced that their talk of UBI is just handwaving; they're trying to convince us that there will be a solution to the destruction of the economy as we know it, so that we'll…

What wealthy celebrities say has no relation to what they will say later, or what they actually think now, regardless if they are speaking about businesses they are directly involved in, or how those businesses or policies integrate with public policies.

So much of the world is discussing what celebrities say, and it's incredibly pointless to take them at face value. They are not trying to convey their current or future thinking, they are trying to shape discourse.

Re: The AI Backlash Could Get Ugly

#184
post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference between then and now is that the have nots don’t have much leverage. At least during the French Revolution, they had strength in numbers. The people who control the capital are building autonomous armament to protect themselves against both foreign and domestic enemies. If you sell labour for money, you should be worried.

> The people who control the capital are building autonomous armament to protect themselves against both foreign and domestic enemies. Rich people can build all the fortified bunkers they want, but they still need to get their food, water, and air from somewhere. It would be very easy to cut them off or smoke them out. (I'm not advocating for violence in any way, I'm just pointing out that nobody's invincible, no mat…

> I'm not advocating for violence in any way

God, I hate this.

"Guys, there is an ugly but working solution to many of our problems, but hey, I am so well-tamed I automatically need to emphasize I don't condone choosing this option"

Re: The AI Backlash Could Get Ugly

#185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fully automated luxury space fascism doesn't really need buyers. A risk of high automation/post-scarcity is that abundance exists but remains under the control of people who are not interested in justice or equality or freedom. Lots of people feel that describes the leadership of most AI tech companies. If they don't need your labor, and they don't need you as a customer, and they don't care about you as a person...…

But that also assume that peasants do not have agency and won't trigger another French Revolution.

> But that also assume that peasants do not have agency and won't trigger another French Revolution

Look at the median age of French society during the French Revolution and the current one.

Who is going to trigger another French revolution? Old people coughing their lung out?

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